The Cold War Kids

Phillyist
November 29, 2007

The Cold War Is Over But the Kids Are Alright

Just in time for tonight's party (will you be there?), Phillyist adds another new writer to the mix, this one the very talented—and extensively published—Joshua Valocchi. We'd like to emphasize that we brought him on as a writer long before he said nice things about Editor Jill's place of employment in a Philadelphia Weekly article, and that said article has nothing to do with his new position on the staff. Although Editor Jill may just buy him a drink tonight, anyway.

Although their seemingly sudden and near-simultaneous appearance on just about every indie rock blog sometime around December ‘05 may have led the masses to believe otherwise, Cold War Kids (MySpace) are much more than mere balladeers on the buzz bandwagon.

From their meager beginnings in a tiny apartment in Fullerton, CA, where they used everything – including the kitchen sink – in the recording of their debut EP, Mulberry St. to finally settling down and signing with Downtown Records (Gnarls Barkley, Art Brut) in the summer of ’06, the Kids have earned their stripes.

Touring relentlessly over the past two years, sharing the stage with the likes of Muse, Two Gallants and the kings of blog buzz, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Cold War Kids continue to pile on to their burgeoning fanbase. Their increasing popularity is thanks in no small part to their deceivingly laid back approach to ragged chord arrangements that seamlessly segue to insistent power pop climaxes.

Expect great things from the Kids tonight at the TLA but don’t expect to see scheduled opener Richard Swift, who injured his wrist in a bizarre gardening accident (just kidding – it was actually a gear-loading incident) last week.

Oddly enough, Swift’s unexpected departure comes hot on the heels of the White Stripes’ cancellation of their Icky Thump tour —which the Kids were slated to open—due to Meg White’s adorable breakdown (seriously – isn’t everything Meg does adorable?).

Although these two clearly unconnected incidents aren’t enough to sway Phillyist’s opinion of Cold War Kids, they do at least warrant a caveat. Basically, we still strongly recommend hitting up tonight’s gig. However, sensing what could quickly develop into a disturbing trend, we think it might be wise to maintain a respectable distance from the stage, lest you find yourself ensnared in the grasp of the Kids’ obviously foul-tempered aura.

Remember, kids – safety first.

(Joshua Valocchi)

Cold War Kids with Derrick Brown and We Barbarians
Fillmore at the TLA (334 South St.)
Tonight, 11/29/07, 9PM
$15
Get Tickets

Image Credit: Flickr user tammylo

Anthony Bourdain - No Reservations

Philadelphia Weekly
November 28, 2007

FOOD FEATURE

Chef off and Die

Philly vegetarians are terrorist scum, says Bourdain.

by Joshua Valocchi

Anthony Bourdain has the best job ever. He trots the globe in search of exotic cuisine, unapologetically drinking and smoking to his heart’s content while making his super-cool TV show No Reservations. Admit it—you’d swap.

From his days as a dishwasher on Cape Cod to his post as an executive chef in Manhattan, former heroin addict and cocaine enthusiast Bourdain has seen it all.

All except, it would seem, Philadelphia’s cuisine.

“Honestly, I’ve never even bothered with Philly,” says Bourdain, who reads from his new book No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach at the Free Library on Saturday. “It seems to me it’s a two-horse town: Starr and Perrier.”

True enough as far as big-box is concerned, but this is straight from the mouth of the same chef who claimed the best eateries are those which traffic in “minimal bullshit.” And anyone who’s bothered with Philly cuisine knows how minimal our tolerance is for bullshit.

Bourdain’s ignorance is a shame. He’s a Philly kinda guy, a straight-up bad boy among the poseurs, poodles and powder puffs that comprise the bulk of celebrity cheffery. Bourdain first found fame in 2000 with Kitchen Confidential, his definitive insiders’ guide to what really goes on in restaurants. It ripped away the curtain of mystique behind which restaurateurs have been bullshitting the eating public for decades—and it had a massive impact.

Suddenly everyone knew that the folks washing your dishes are on the brink of deportation and your high-priced dish is likely teeming with bacteria.

Bourdain took a firm grasp of the brass ring. He signed on with the folks at Food Network and—for a while—jumped through their culinary hoops like a good little TV cheffy.

But after a few agonizing months doing Bobby Flay tricks, Bourdain was offered his own show on the Travel Channel. The deal was irresistible: You tell us where in the world you want to go and we’ll make it happen.

Travel Channel followed Bourdain’s every move and granted his every wish. It was as if he’d stumbled upon a fairy godmother.

But it’s not all sunshine and beach cuisine. Bourdain’s best moment came when he and his crew were all set to tape a show about foodie culture in Lebanon. They were holed up in a Beirut hotel when the Israeli bombs began to land.

“Those kookie-krazy kids from Hezbollah were popping off their weapons today,” he posted on foodie forum Egullet.org. “Israel has been bombing and mobilizing a division in the South with reported land and sea strikes … While the party continues in Beirut there’s a lot of concern that the Israelis will follow up with strikes on infrastructure (like the power grid). And we were due to head to the Bekka Valley tomorrow. BTW this town is party central!” The resulting videography was deeply disturbing.

“It wasn’t so much harrowing as it was heartbreaking,” says Bourdain. “It was truly heartbreaking to see a great city destroyed for no good reason at all. Honestly, it was a deeply shaming and discouraging experience.”

And one that won him an Emmy.

Back to the important stuff, though—like those whom Bourdain refers to as a “plague of vegetarians.”

As things stand, Bourdain has a unilaterally declared truce with the veggies—in that he’s promised not to physically attack them. He’s particularly pissed off with those—like the Philadelphia-based group Hugs for Puppies—who claim that eating foie gras is a threat to society or the environment.

“These fucking people are not really all about us not eating duck liver,” snarls Bourdain. “No, no, no. They don’t want us eating any animal product whatsoever.

“When they win this tiny battle, they’ll move to the next one, like freeing the lobsters.

“These people,” says Bourdain, “are the worst kind of terrorists. And they must be stopped.”

Anthony Bourdain
Sat., Dec. 1, 2pm. Free. Free Library, 1901 Vine St. 215.567.4341. www.library.phila.gov

All Blogs Considered

Philadelphia Weekly
November 28, 2007

Opening Riff

All Blogs Considered

by Joshua Valocchi

It’s no secret the folks behind the scenes at NPR have some pretty eclectic musical tastes. The tiny bumper snippets of tunes played on Fresh Air or You Bet Your Garden heading into sponsor breaks range from beatnik jazz and Delta blues to Bhangra and calypso. It’s always fun to play “name that tune” during the breaks.

Nonetheless, for many acts that four-second soundbite is the highest level of public exposure they may ever receive. In that sense it’s pretty damn refreshing when some hip producer drops the occasional New Deal or Seelenluft sample smack dab in the middle of Talk of the Nation.

In an effort to increase potential exposure for these artists (while raising their own image of course), earlier this month NPR launched NPR Music (www.npr.org/music), their newest foray into the blogosphere. While featuring longer versions of the songs teased on several NPR programs, the site also offers insight into the musical leanings of a handful of NPR hosts and producers. Most relevant, naturally, is the All Songs Considered blog wherein producer Robin Hilton confesses that he doesn’t get the allure of the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and compares Lou Reed to David Lynch, deciding the former simply can’t sing and the latter is “just nuts.”

Naturally the site offers streaming audio of selected songs, even occasionally featuring full concerts. But the coolest aspect of the entire site may be Carrie Brownstein’s Monitor Mix blog. Brownstein, the co-founder of Sleater-Kinney, muses not so much about specific songs or albums, but the way in which people experience music. From her love for Blitzen Trapper to her deeply rooted concerns about what people’s choice of pets says about their musical tastes, Brownstein manages to keep matters on the light side with a friendly, conversational tone.

If you happen to walk your iguana while listening to System of a Down, however, Ms. Brownstein would like to have a word with you.

Stones Throw B-Ball Zombie War Tour

Philadelphia Weekly
Novemeber 28, 2007

Live Music

Stones Throw B-Ball Zombie War Tour
Mon., Dec. 3, 7:30pm. $15. With Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib, Guilty Simpson, Percee P, J-Rocc + Karriem. Starlight Ballroom, 460 N. Ninth St. 866.468.7619. www.r5productions.com

To put it bluntly, Peanut Butter Wolf is the most underrated DJ on the much-maligned backpacker scene. The founder of Stones Throw Records and the mastermind behind the universally acclaimed Madvillain collaborations with MF Doom, Wolf brings his three-ring circus to the Starlight for a night of unparalleled hip-hocracy, endearing the Illadelph to all that is right in the realm of rap. Under the auspices of Wolf’s largesse, old-school legend Percee P rocks the house with his ferocious flow before fledgling flamethrower Guilty Simpson (pictured) sways the jive juries with his tales of dubious deeds. Wordsmith J-Rocc houses haute couture through his highfalutin histrionics as Wolf himself lures the lollygaggers with his capacious catalog of hype-tronic beats. (Joshua Valocchi)

Marina Rosenfeld

Philadelphia Weekly
November 28, 2007

A-List

Jazz you like it
Marina Rosenfeld
Wed., Dec. 5, 5:30pm. $3-$6 (free with Penn ID). Institute of Contemporary Art, 118 S. 36th St. 215.898.7108. www.icaphila.org

Marina Rosenfeld is an avant-garde jazz turntablist in the coolest sense—meaning she messes with the delicate sensibilities of the oh-so-precious dance cognescenti just as much as she tweaks the noses of the turgid jazz snobs who want the genre to stay dry, dusty and dead. As such she walks in the footsteps of John Zorn, the dude who ripped jazz a score of fresh assholes in the ’90s by mixing John Coltrane’s be-bop with Napalm Death’s extreme thrash metal (causing outrage and at least one riot). While in college Rosenfeld invented the Sheer Frost Orchestra, consisting of 17 women playing floor-bound electric guitars with nail polish bottles. In short, like all cool artists, Rosenfeld delights in screwing with heads. Through her vinyl, Rosenfeld quotes everyone from Trane to Marclay to Sonic Youth. Just as DJ Shadow ensures that backpackers are schooled in the Stax back catalog, Rosenfeld lets jazzbos and disco dollies alike know what it’s like to hear the world through John Zorn’s ragged, elephantine and permanently bleeding ears. (Joshua Valocchi)

Roy Ayers

Philadelphia Weekly
November 21, 2007

Live Music

Roy Ayers
Fri., Nov. 23 and Sat., Nov. 24, 8pm. $35. Warmdaddy’s, 1400 Columbus Blvd. 215.462.2000. www.warmdaddys.com

Whether you’ve been gettin’ your swerve on to old Puff and Biggie tracks, catching up on classic Pam Grier blaxploitation vehicles or keepin’ it real with vintage Tribe and Brand Nubian, you’ve been listening to a lot of Roy Ayers lately. Not quite your style, you say? You’re more of a hip-hop snob who revels in flouting your underground expertise? Well that Quasimoto B-side you just mined is rife with samples from the vibraphone master too. From the moment Lionel Hampton handed a set of mallets to a 5-year-old Ayers, to that legendary 1979 world tour with Fela Kuti, he’s been honing the skills that would eventually earn the oft-dubbed “godfather of acid jazz” the ultimate honor: placement in not one but two editions of Grand Theft Auto. (Joshua Valocchi)

Grand StorySlam

DigPhilly
November 13, 2007

Heroin makes heroine of Philly’s best storyteller

Created by: Joshua Valocchi

Posted: November 13, 2007

The "Greatest Storyteller in Philadelphia" wins title on hilarious and heartbreaking tale of heroin, rehab and music.

“So, for my 24th birthday, my friends and family all got together and … sent me to rehab for heroin.”

Thus began the sordid but hilarious tale that would eventually earn Juliet Wayne the coveted title of “Best Storyteller in Philadelphia.”

Presented as the crown jewel of sorts in this year’s First Person Arts Festival, Saturday’s “Grand StorySlam” pitted the winners of the past seven monthly “StorySlams” against one another in a battle royal of yarnspinning. Given the topic of “Most Memorable Musical Moments,” each competitor had five minutes to deliver an autobiographical short story in their individually chosen style. The contestants were judged on presentation and content, with consideration given to the amount of relevance the stories bore to the musically-themed topic.

Wayne’s winning tale owed as much to her endearingly enthusiastic delivery as it did to the touching and deeply personal aspects contained within. Interestingly enough, the only questionable element involved was how much of a “musical moment” it really was. Regardless, from open to close, Wayne kept the standing room only audience’s attention rapt with her demonstrative style and sharp wit. When she wrapped her story up in a nice bow – quite literally, in fact – she had managed to guide the crowd through the gamut of emotions in a fashion that made it difficult to distinguish tears of laughter from those of compassion.

Although Wayne took home the grand prize with her rehab rehash, two other competitors managed to separately snag honors in the specific criteria categories. Brendan Jones’ emphatic delivery of a harrowing experience on a fishing rig in the wild waters off the Alaskan coast garnered him the presentation crown, while R. Eric Thomas’ music-centric tale of singing Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” in front of a crowd of drunk lesbians at Sisters nailed down the content title.

Although narrowly failing to earn an official prize, Raeann Drew’s adorably disjointed account of just how funny epileptic seizures can be when they happen during choral concerts had the entire audience in stitches. If there was a laugh-o-meter involved in any of the award criteria, Drew would have been a shoo-in. Additionally, local attorney Benjamin Drinen somehow managed to wring a measure of grim humor from a deeply disturbing tale of domestic abuse. His story, which originated from his experience as a social worker, was delivered in such a bone-dry fashion that it was impossible to gauge how serious he was when he stated – in reference to the abuser – “if he comes back here, I’ll kill that motherfucker.”

Through it all, StorySlam host Robert Drake kept it together with his self-deprecating humor and questionable eyesight – especially when it came to reading the judges' scorecards. Drake, a local DJ and the producer of WXPN’s Kid’s Corner, managed to maintain the evening’s momentum during intermittent breaks as the judges tallied their scores. He took some time to share a few personal observations and also read selections from the more than 1,500 submissions to WXPN’s recent “Most Memorable Musical Moments” countdown competition.

Amusingly enough, when Drake turned the microphone over to StorySlam winner Wayne, the newly-crowned “Greatest Storyteller in Philadelphia” was initially rendered speechless. After gathering herself, however, she managed one line that put the whole evening into perfect perspective, “I feel like I just achieved the biggest accomplishment in my life by telling about my greatest failure.”

Buck 65

Philadelphia Weekly
November 14, 2007

Opening Riff

by Joshua Valocchi

The Buck Stops Here

On Buck 65’s MySpace Music page, a solitary word occupies the “Sounds Like” section: “nothin’.” It’s a surprisingly apt and impossibly brief summary of what the Paris-by-way-of-Halifax country-punk-philosophical white rapper is all about.

“When I’m writing songs and sampling beats, I never consider how it will be defined by the music world at large,” says Rich Terfry, Buck 65’s government-issue offstage persona. “Whenever I start worrying about mixing genres too much, I think about how Afrika Bambaataa incorporated Kraftwerk into hip-hop and brought it to the South Bronx in the early ’80s. If there was room for that back then, surely there’s room for my stuff now.”

Apparently Terfry’s blatant disregard for boundaries extends beyond his beats and lyrics, permeating the themes and imagery that dot his musical landscapes. Defying the age-old practice of glorifying thugs and gangstas through odes to bling, Terfry paints some pretty bleak portraits on his sonic canvas.

On his newest disc Situation Buck 65 marks a slight departure from the trails blazed on his previous efforts in a loosely constructed concept album that hinges on a more stripped-down hip-hop frame than his typically dense fare.

The tracks on Situation lazily revolve around the theme year of 1957, with mentions of Ginsberg, Sputnik and Bettie Page thrown in for scenery.

Predictably Terfry brushes off any intimations that his latest project may not “fit in” with the heavily textured aural collages of his past releases. “Hip-hop has become such a broad genre,” he notes. “The level of open-mindedness and spirit of musical adventure is constantly growing throughout the fanbase. There’s always room for something else.”

Buck 65 performs Sat., Nov. 17, 9pm. $10. With Bernard Dolan. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave. 215.739.9684. www.johnnybrendas.com

Galactic

Philadelphia Weekly
November 14, 2007

Live Music

Galactic
Fri., Nov. 16, 9pm. $20-$22. With Chali 2na, Boots Riley, Mr. Lif + Lifesavas. Fillmore at the TLA, 334 South St. 215.922.1010. www.livenation.com

Having cut their teeth in the New Orleans funk scene for the better part of a decade, Galactic shifted gears in 2003, tapping hip-hop knob-twiddler Dan the Automator (Handsome Boy Modeling School) to helm the production of Ruckus.

The result: 13 tracks of breakbeat-driven electrofunk served as the band’s perfect introduction to several luminaries of the underground hip-hop scene. Going beyond newfound fandom, the Coup’s Boots Riley and Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na contributed vocal efforts to Galactic’s newest release From the Corner to the Block. Both MCs are on the slate for this gig—along with fellow collaborators Mr. Lif and Quannum’s inimitable Lifesavas crew—thus ensuring an experimental evening of creative cross-pollination. (Joshua Valocchi)

Moustachio Bashio

Philadelphia Weekly
November 14, 2007

Editor's Picks

CONTEST

Moustachio Bashio
Tues., Nov. 20, 8pm. Free. Ten Stone, 21st and South sts. 215.735.9939. www.tenstone.com

The question on everybody’s upper lips: What, exactly, is the Moustachio Bashio? The brainchild of resident Ten Stone pranksters Brenna McGinnis and Papaya, the Bashio is a good old-fashioned mustache contest.

Roll up and put your tickler to the test. Does your soup strainer make the rest of the field look like peach fuzz? Got a cookie duster that’s more of a muffin mopper? Come on down, then, ’cause it’s straight Mo-vember (as the month has been renamed by antipodean face fungus fanatics) at the Stone.

A celebrity panel of judges including Markos Kapes (and his horseshoe Manchu) along with Skull (seriously, is it even possible to hold a proper mustache contest without a guy named Skull?) will adhere to a strictly nonsensical point system to determine the winners.

The always-popular “various prizes” will be awarded to the most diabolical (think Snidely Whiplash and Dick Dastardly) and the high-handlebar holy of holies, the “Tom Selleck Would Be Proud” ’stashe.

In a stunning display of largesse, the organizers have even instituted categories covering fake mustaches—opening wide the windows of opportunity so the glory of grooming greatness can be grasped by all. (Joshua Valocchi)

Lewis Black

Philadelphia Weekly
November 14, 2007

A-List

Hit and misanthrope

Lewis Black
Thurs., Nov. 15, 8pm. $45-$65. Academy of Music, Broad and Locust sts. 215.893.1999. www.kimmelcenter.org

Like a pre-9/11 Dennis Miller on crank, the genuinely angry and always hilarious Lewis Black takes a circuitous but sharp-fanged approach, attacking the bastards who run things with a frustrated gusto that sometimes threatens to spill over into dementia.

Black’s development has mirrored Miller’s in at least one respect: exponentially increasing hysteria. Just as Miller sold out his liberal credentials after 9/11, choosing instead to traffic in batshit-crazy rants about the dangers of civil liberties, Black’s been spiraling deeper and deeper into what can only end as a full-on mental breakdown in front of a live audience. Or is it an act?

Whatever, it’s exhilarating.

Black’s Daily Show colleague Jon Stewart is really funny only when he’s pissed. Black starts pissed. He’s the comedic equivalent of the Hulk. He spares no one. Attacks on Republican greed and arrogance are bookended with diatribes against Democratic ineffectiveness, bureaucracy and infighting. Lately it seems the only group safe from Black’s maniacal reach is Canadians, who, according to Black, “get it.” (Joshua Valocchi)

First Person Arts Festival

Philadelphia Weekly
November 7, 2007

ART FEATURE

More Than Meets the “I”

The First Person Arts Festival features storytelling with a twist.

by Joshua Valocchi

“When stories are projected through a personal lens, they become much more resonant,” says Vicki Solot, founder of the First Person Arts Festival. “People tend to believe personal experience more than manufactured spin.”

That tenet is the basic premise of Solot’s artistic vision. Now in its sixth year, the First Person Arts Festival features more than 20 events over days, encompassing cultural disciplines as diverse as photography, film, poetry and cooking.

What began as a one-woman operation based in Solot’s apartment has grown into a major cultural force in Philly. And roughly half of this year’s performers are Philadelphia artists, photographers, writers and bloggers.

“This year we’re shifting the emphasis to local and emerging artists,” says Solot. “As we’ve grown as an organization, we’ve been able to exponentially expand our programming, connecting the festival to an increasing number of activities taking place throughout the entire year. This approach allows us to connect more with our audience as they become part of a growing community.”

Judging from the schedule, that communal audience is likely to shoot off the growth chart. This is the first year the entire festival will be held in a single location and will be the biggest problem for attendees is choosing which gigs to catch from such an impressive roster.

For starters, there’s Life and Death Over Coffee, a mixed-media presentation that pairs a memoir writer and a film documentarian in a surprisingly cohesive program. Michael Gates Gill, a one-time millionaire entrepreneur turned Starbucks barista, reads from his memoir How Starbucks Saved My Life. The book tells the tale of his rise and fall in the world of high finance, which eventually led to a job jerking joe for the big boss of the brown bean, where he finally learned to appreciate the charms and pleasures of everyday life. Gill’s reading is backed with a screening of comedian/filmmaker Mark Malkoff’s 171 Starbucks, which traces his steps as he visits all 171 Manhattan branches of the coffee chain in a single day.

If coffee ain’t your cup of tea, perhaps you’d prefer to drink some evangelical Kool-Aid. Jesus Freaks and Skateboard Geeks is another book-film pairing, but one that takes a critical look at the changing face of the evangelical movement. Lauren Sandler, author of Righteous: Dispatches From the Evangelical Youth Movement, reads excerpts detailing the curious path taken by modern evangelical leaders as they shift from Pat Robertson acolytes to Pat Smear proselytes in a desperate effort to capture a greater share of the “edgy” youth market. Sandler’s reading is followed by a screening of Jesus Camp, the 2006 Oscar-nominated documentary about life at an evangelical Christian summer camp.

So you’re a decaf drinker suffering from Jesus fatigue syndrome? Try Laura Schenone’s The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken. Schenone is a Jersey girl with deep Italian roots (what are the odds?) who trekked from Hoboken to Genoa in an effort to track down her great-grandmother’s ravioli recipe. Schenone details every step along the way and recounts her experiences in this ravioli romance before unleashing attendees on a buffet dinner featuring—what else—Genoese cuisine.

Rounding out the performance selections are a pair of events that perfectly capture the spirit of the festival. Having Her Say: Teen Girls Speak Up features freelance Vogue editor Amy Goldwasser leading a group of mall-aged girls through readings from her forthcoming book. Banking on the assumption that some teenagers care about more than Lindsay and Brit, Goldwasser challenged young female authors to submit essays for inclusion in her compendium of Red: The Next Generation of American Writers. Answering the question “What fires up your life today?” participating scribes—including a few locals—join Goldwasser to read selections from the scads of submissions received.

As a bookend to Goldwasser’s spotlight on new writers, the First Person StorySlams Grand Slam pits seven backyard bards against each other as they vie for the coveted title of Best Storyteller in Philadelphia. The contestant pool for the event was determined by monthly “slams” featuring first-person accounts of stories touching upon a slew of topics.

“Telling stories through the first-person perspective is the way we pass on our personal, community and national history,” says Solot. “It’s a simple concept, sure, but one that’s absolutely crucial to our survival as a culture.”

First Person Arts Festival
Wed., Nov. 7-Sun., Nov. 11, various times, prices and venues. 800.838.3006.
www.firstpersonarts.org

Harry Potter and the Magical Muggle Museum

Philadelphia Weekly
November 7, 2007

Editor's Picks

Event

Harry Potter and the Magical Muggle Museum
Sun., Nov. 11, 12:30pm. Free-$8. University of Pennsylviania Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology, 3260 South St. 215.898.4890. www.museum.upenn.edu

The witches and wizards of Hogwarts are baring themselves even, it would seem, for the Muggles among us. The Hogwarts’ Sorting Hat will be placing participants in their houses before the first years are subjected to the whims of the local witches and wizards. Yes, Snape will be on hand, leading his Potions classes before a lesson in the handling of magical creatures is presented by ... trained handlers from the Philadelphia Zoo. A must for Muggles and Mudbloods of all stripes. (Joshua Valocchi)

Trolleyvox

Philadelphia Weekly
November 7, 2007

Live Music

Trolleyvox
Thurs., Nov. 8, 9pm. $7-$9. With Canadian Invasion + Trentalange. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. 215.222.1400. www.worldcafelive.com

A bona fide veteran of the local scene, Andrew Chalfen has been serenading the kids in Philly with his sweet psych-pop melodies since the Reagan administration.

In what might be the only documented occurrence of a positive trickle-down effect, Chalfen’s territorial pissings have marked just about every musical outpost, venue and startup garage band this city has thrown his way.

From his early days with pop purveyors the Wishniaks to his current role with the somewhat more mellow and mature Trolleyvox, Chalfen has never shied away from spending every waking musical moment breathing new life into his ambitiously heady dream in sound. (Joshua Valocchi)

America's VideoGame Expo

Philadelphia Weekly
October 31, 2007

Editor's Picks

EVENT

America’s VideoGame Expo

Fri., Nov. 2-Sun., Nov. 4, various times. $7.50-$30. Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th and Arch sts. www.vgxpo.com

This weekend’s Video Game Expo is aimed at the same demographic as Las Vegas’ Adult Entertainment Expo—but instead of listing luminaries like Jenna Jameson and Christy Canyon, the “celebrity” guest register at VGXPO features Ralph Baer, the creator of Pong (which is only one letter shy of “porn”).

Just like a porn conference, though, VGXPO offers (for an additional fee, of course) a mini-conference providing tips and secrets about breaking into the industry. In fact, a job and education fair is being held on-site, and I’m betting dollars to donuts that VGXPO attendees stand a much greater chance of working in their hobby field than do the creepy smut groupies.

Another aspect of VGXPO that gives it an edge over your run-of-the-mill FapFest is the Video Game Museum. A gamers’ hall of fame of sorts, the museum showcases beloved systems and games of old. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own favorites to donate.

Just try showing up at Pornstock with John Holmes’ cold dead cock in your hand. Let me tell you—it does not go over well. (Joshua Valocchi)